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Trigonella foenum-graceum L. (variety HM 444) seeds are an excellent source of phenolics, flavonoids, and sugars, which serve as reducing, stabilizing, and capping agents for the reduction of silver ions to AgNPs. Various phytochemicals such as total phenolic content (5.37 ± 0.14 mg GAE/g), total flavonoids (1.43 ± 0.03 mg CE/g), total sugars (41.44 ± 0.61 mg/g), reducing sugars (0.73 ± 0.02 mg/g) and non- reducing sugars (40.71 ± 0.58 mg/g) were reported in aqueous seed extract. Their ability to mediate AgNPs biosynthesis was evaluated. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, particle size analyser, XRD, FESEM-EDX, HRTEM, SAED and FT-IR Spectroscopy. The average size of the AgNPs was 27 nm and they were spherical in shape. The AgNPs showed better 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity with a lower IC50 = 620.00 µg/mL as compared the aqueous seed extract (IC50 = 623.33 µg/mL). AgNPs exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Xanthomonas spp., Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium oxysporum compared to the aqueous seed extract. According to this study, AgNPs may be a contender for various biological, nutraceutical, and sustainable antimicrobial food packaging applications.

The aqueous Trigonella foenum-graecum L. leaf extract belonging to variety HM 444 was used as reducing agent for silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesis. UV–Visible spectroscopy, Particle size analyser (PSA), Field emission scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (FESEM-EDX) and High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) were used to characterize AgNPs. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) confirmed the formation of metallic Ag. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was done to find out the possible phytochemicals responsible for stabilization and capping of the AgNPs. The produced AgNPs had an average particle size of 21 nm, were spherical in shape, and monodispersed. It showed catalytic degradation of Methylene blue (96.57%, 0.1665 ± 0.03 min−1), Methyl orange (71.45%, 0.1054 ± 0.002 min−1), and Rhodamine B (92.72%, 0.2004 ± 0.01 min−1). The produced AgNPs were excellent solid bio-based sensors because they were very sensitive to Hg2+ and Fe3+ metal ions with a detection limit of 11.17 µM and 195.24 µM, respectively. From the results obtained, it was suggested that aqueous leaf extract demonstrated a versatile and cost-effective method and should be utilized in future as green technology for the fabrication of nanoparticles.

Maize is an important industrial crop where yield and quality enhancement both assume greater importance. Clean production technologies like conservation agriculture and integrated nutrient management hold the key to enhance productivity and quality besides improving soil health and environment. Hence, maize productivity and quality were assessed under a maize–wheat cropping system (MWCS) using four crop-establishment and tillage management practices [FBCT–FBCT (Flat bed–conventional tillage both in maize and wheat); RBCT–RBZT (Raised bed–CT in maize and raised bed–zero tillage in wheat); FBZT–FBZT (FBZT both in maize and wheat); PRBZT–PRBZT (Permanent raised bed–ZT both in maize and wheat], and five P-fertilization practices [P 100  (100% soil applied-P); P 50  + 2FSP (50% soil applied-P + 2 foliar-sprays of P through 2% DAP both in maize and wheat); P 50  + PSB + AM-fungi; P 50  + PSB + AMF + 2FSP; and P 0  (100% NK with no-P)] in split-plot design replicated-thrice. Double zero-tilled PRBZT–PRBZT system significantly enhanced the maize grain, starch, protein and oil yield by 13.1–19% over conventional FBCT–FBCT. P 50  + PSB + AMF + 2FSP, integrating soil applied-P, microbial-inoculants and foliar-P, had significantly higher grain, starch, protein and oil yield by 12.5–17.2% over P 100  besides saving 34.7% fertilizer-P both in maize and on cropping-system basis. P 50  + PSB + AMF + 2FSP again had significantly higher starch, lysine and tryptophan content by 4.6–10.4% over P 100  due to sustained and synchronized P-bioavailability. Higher amylose content (24.1%) was observed in grains under P 50  + PSB + AMF + 2FSP, a beneficial trait due to its lower glycemic-index highly required for diabetic patients, where current COVID-19 pandemic further necessitated the use of such dietary ingredients. Double zero-tilled PRBZT–PRBZT reported greater MUFA (oleic acid, 37.1%), MUFA: PUFA ratio and P/S index with 6.9% higher P/S index in corn-oil (an oil quality parameter highly required for heart-health) over RBCT-RBCT. MUFA, MUFA: PUFA ratio and P/S index were also higher under P 50  + PSB + AMF + 2FSP; avowing the obvious role of foliar-P and microbial-inoculants in influencing maize fatty acid composition. Overall, double zero-tilled PRBZT–PRBZT with crop residue retention at 6 t/ha per year along with P 50  + PSB + AMF + 2FSP while saving 34.7% fertilizer-P in MWCS, may prove beneficial in enhancing maize productivity and quality so as to reinforce the food and nutritional security besides boosting food, corn-oil and starch industry in south-Asia and collateral arid agro-ecologies across the globe.

The dynamic interactions of plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) that facilitate the efficient uptake of minerals from soil and provide protection from various environmental stresses (biotic and abiotic) are now also attributed to a third component of the symbiosis. These are the less investigated mycorrhizae helper bacteria (MHB), which constitute a dense, active bacterial community, tightly associated with AMF, and involved in the development and functioning of AMF. Although AMF spores are known to host several bacteria in their spore walls and cytoplasm, their role in promoting the ecological fitness and establishment of AMF symbiosis by influencing spore germination, mycelial growth, root colonization, metabolic diversity, and biocontrol of soil borne diseases is now being deciphered. MHB also promote the functioning of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis by triggering various plant growth factors, leading to better availability of nutrients in the soil and uptake by plants. In order to develop strategies to promote mycorrhization by AMF, and particularly to stimulate the ability to utilize phosphorus from the soil, there is a need to decipher crucial metabolic signalling pathways of MHB and elucidate their functional significance as mycorrhiza helper bacteria. MHB, also referred to as AMF bioenhancers, also improve agronomic efficiency and formulations using AMF along with enriched population of MHB are a promising option. This review covers the aspects related to the specificity and mechanisms of action of MHB, which positively impact the formation and functioning of AMF in mycorrhizal symbiosis, and the need to advocate MHB as AMF bioenhancers towards their inclusion in integrated nutrient management practices in sustainable agriculture.

Biochemical synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) using plant part extracts as capping and reducing agents has drawn considerable attention in research with a growing focus on green chemistry. The present study utilized Sapota (Manilkara zapota L.) peel extract to synthesize silver nanoparticles (SP-AgNPs) using ultrasonic vibration. Different characterization techniques such as UV-vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Field emission scanning electron microscope, High resolution transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction were employed to check the production of SP-AgNPs. The AgNPs were crystalline in nature and had an average particle size of 27.906 nm. The research primarily focused on two aspects: the catalytic activity of SP-AgNPs in degrading environmental pollutants and their ability to act as colorimetric sensors for toxic metal ions. SP-AgNPs exhibited significant catalytic activity in the decomposition of various pollutants such as Methyl Orange (0.035 ± 0.090 min−1, 92.89 ± 1.79%), Crystal Violet (0.1097 ± 0.1016 min−1, 85.56 ± 2.21%) and Cosmic Brilliant Blue G-250 (0.0697 ± 0.0275 min−1, 79.56 ± 1.80%). The high degradation percentages and reaction rate constants indicate the efficiency of SP-AgNPs in pollutant degradation. Additionally, the study demonstrated the effectiveness of SP-AgNPs as sensors for detecting toxic metal ions, particularly Co2+ and Hg2+ with limits of detection 54.40 ± 1.43 µM and 10.70 ± 0.16 µM. With impressive sensitivity and low detection limits, SP-AgNPs showed promise in detecting these ions, which are often found in environmental contaminants. Moreover, their plant-based synthesis, low toxicity, and cost-effectiveness make them attractive options for environmental remediation efforts.Graphical abstract

Biologically produced silver nanoparticles are becoming a more appealing option than chemically produced antioxidants and antimicrobial agents, because they are safer, easier to manufacture and have medicinal properties at lower concentrations. In this work, we employed the aqueous pomegranate peel extract (PPE) to synthesize silver nanoparticles (PPE-AgNPs), as peel extract is a rich source of phytochemicals which functions as reducing agent for the synthesis of PPE-AgNPs. Additionally, the PPE was examined quantitatively for total phenolics and total flavonoids content. PPE-AgNPs were characterized using analytical techniques including UV–Vis spectroscopy, DLS, FTIR, XRD, HRTEM and FESEM, evaluated in vitro against the plant pathogenic microbes and also for antioxidant activities. Analytical techniques (HRTEM and FESEM) confirmed the spherical shape and XRD technique revealed the crystalline nature of synthesized PPE-AgNPs. Quantitative analysis revealed the presence of total phenolics (269.93 ± 1.01 mg GAE/g) and total flavonoids (119.70 ± 0.83 mg CE/g). Biosynthesized PPE-AgNPs exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Klebsiella aerogenes and Xanthomonas axonopodis, antifungal activity against Colletotrichum graminicola and Colletotrichum gloesporioides at 50 µg/mL concentration. The antioxidant potential of biosynthesized PPE-AgNPs was analysed via ABTS (IC50 4.25 µg/mL), DPPH (IC50 5.22 µg/mL), total antioxidant (86.68 g AAE/mL at 10 µg/mL) and FRAP (1.93 mM Fe(II)/mL at 10 µg/mL) assays. Cytotoxicity of PPE-AgNPs was valuated using MTT assay and cell viability of 83.32% was determined at 100 µg/mL concentration. These investigations suggest that synthesized PPE-AgNPs might prove useful for agricultural and medicinal purposes in the future.

Microgreens have been used for raw consumption and are generally viewed as healthy food. This study aimed to optimize the yield parameters, shelf life, sensory evaluation and characterization of total aerobic bacteria (TAB), yeast and mold (Y&M), Escherichia coli , Salmonella spp., and Listeria spp. incidence in mungbean ( Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek), lentil ( Lens culinaris Medikus subsp. culinaris ), and Indian mustard ( Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss.) microgreens. In mungbean and lentil, seeding-density of three seed/cm 2 , while in Indian mustard, eight seed/cm 2 were recorded as optimum. The optimal time to harvest mungbean, Indian mustard, and lentil microgreens were found as 7 th , 8 th , and 9 th day after sowing, respectively. Interestingly, seed size was found highly correlated with the overall yield in both mungbeans (r 2 = .73) and lentils (r 2 = .78), whereas no such relationship has been recorded for Indian mustard microgreens. The target pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella spp. and Listeria spp. were not detected; while TAB, Y&M, Shigella spp., and E . coli were recorded well within the limit to cause any human illness in the studied microgreens. Washing with double distilled water for two minutes has shown some reduction in the overall microbial load of these microgreens. The results provided evidence that microgreens if grown and stored properly, are generally safe for human consumption. This is the first study from India on the safety of mungbean, lentils, and Indian mustard microgreens.

Pearlmillet-chickpea cropping system (PCCS) is emerging as an important sequence in semi-arid regions of south-Asia owing to less water-requirement. However, chickpea (dry-season crop) faces comparatively acute soil moisture-deficit over pearlmillet (wet-season crop), limiting overall sustainability of PCCS. Hence, moisture-management (specifically in chickpea) and system intensification is highly essential for sustaining the PCCS in holistic manner. Since, conservation agriculture (CA) has emerged is an important climate-smart strategy to combat moisture-stress alongwith other production-vulnerabilities. Hence, current study comprised of three tillage systems in main-plots viz., Complete-CA with residue retention (CA c ), Partial-CA without residue-retention (CA p ), and Conventional-tillage (ConvTill) under three cropping systems in sub-plots viz., conventionally grown pearlmillet-chickpea cropping system (PCCS) alongwith two intensified systems i.e. pearlmillet-chickpea-fodder pearlmillet cropping system (PCFCS) and pearlmillet-chickpea-mungbean cropping system (PCMCS) in split-plot design. The investigation outcomes mainly focused on chickpea (dry-season crop) revealed that, on an average, there was a significant increase in chickpea grain yield under CA c to the tune of 27, 23.5 and 28.5% under PCCS, PCFCS and PCMCS, respectively over ConvTill. NPK uptake and micronutrient (Fe and Zn) biofortification in chickpea grains were again significantly higher under triple zero-tilled CA c plots with residue-retention; which was followed by triple zero-tilled CA p plots without residue-retention and the ConvTill plots. Likewise, CA c under PCMCS led to an increase in relative leaf water (RLW) content in chickpea by ~ 20.8% over ConvTill under PCCS, hence, ameliorating the moisture-stress effects. Interestingly, CA-management and system-intensification significantly enhanced the plant biochemical properties in chickpea viz ., super-oxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, catalase and glutathione reductase; thus, indicating their prime role in inducing moisture-stress tolerance ability in moisture-starved chickpea. Triple zero-tilled CA c plots also reduced the N 2 O fluxes in chickpea but with slightly higher CO 2 emissions, however, curtailed the net GHG-emissions. Triple zero-tilled cropping systems (PCFCS and PCMCS) both under CA c and Ca p led to a significant improvement in soil microbial population and soil enzymes activities (alkaline phosphatase, fluorescein diacetate, dehydrogenase). Overall, the PCCS system-intensification with mungbean (PCMCS) alongwith triple zero-tillage with residue-retention (CA c ) may amply enhance the productivity, micronutrient biofortification and moisture-stress tolerance ability in chickpea besides propelling the ecological benefits under semi-arid agro-ecologies. However, the farmers should preserve a balance while adopting CA c or CA p where livestock equally competes for quality fodder.

Mungbeans and lentils are relatively easily grown and cheaper sources of microgreens, but their phytonutrient diversity is not yet deeply explored. In this study, 20 diverse genotypes each of mungbean and lentil were grown as microgreens under plain-altitude (Delhi) and high-altitude (Leh) conditions, which showed significant genotypic variations for ascorbic acid, tocopherol, carotenoids, flavonoid, total phenolics, DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), FRAP (ferric-reducing antioxidant power), peroxide activity, proteins, enzymes (peroxidase and catalase), micronutrients, and macronutrients contents. The lentil and mungbean genotypes L830 and MH810, respectively, were found superior for most of the studied parameters over other studied genotypes. Interestingly, for most of the studied parameters, Leh-grown microgreens were found superior to the Delhi-grown microgreens, which could be due to unique environmental conditions of Leh, especially wide temperature amplitude, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and UV-B content. In mungbean microgreens, total phenolics content (TPC) was found positively correlated with FRAP and DPPH, while in lentil microgreens, total flavonoid content (TFC) was found positively correlated with DPPH. The most abundant elements recorded were in the order of K, P, and Ca in mungbean microgreens; and K, Ca, and P in the lentil microgreens. In addition, these Fabaceae microgreens may help in the nutritional security of the population residing in the high-altitude regions of Ladakh, especially during winter months when this region remains landlocked due to heavy snowfall.

Conservation agriculture (CA) presents a promising substitute to the tillage-intensive rice–wheat cropping system (RWS) prevalent in the Indo-Gangetic plains (IGPs). In the northwestern IGPs, on-farm studies examining the impact of CA durations on soil properties and quality are limited. This study assessed the effects of CA practised for 2 (CA2), 4 (CA4), 8 (CA8), and 12 (CA12) years and conventional tillage (CT) on soil quality in the Nilokheri block of Haryana, India. The collected soil samples from 0–5 to 5–15 cm were analyzed for 22 different soil parameters, and a soil quality index (SQI) was developed using principal component analysis (PCA) for each scenario. The results showed that scenarios CA8 and CA12 had 9.8–10.7 and 11.1–11.3% lower bulk density, respectively, compared to CT. Mean weight diameter, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and water holding capacity were significantly higher in CA8 and CA12 over CT at both soil layers. Microbial biomass carbon and dehydrogenase activity increased by 32 and 42.7%, 14.9 and 32.3% in CA8 and CA12, respectively, over CT in the surface soil. Most of the chemical parameters were significantly influenced by CA, except for pH, electrical conductivity, and available Cu. Key soil quality indicators identified through PCA included Ks, WHC, β-glucosidase activity, dehydrogenase activity, available S, available Fe, and available Cu. The highest SQI was observed in CA12, followed by CA8 and CA4, and the lowest in CT at both depths. The derived regression coefficients revealed a strong positive relationship between SQI and both rice equivalent yield and wheat yield. This finding highlights the potential of enhancing soil quality to boost agricultural productivity under CA, thereby fostering sustainable farming. Such improvements are vital for building climate-resilient cropping and supporting the widespread adoption of CA practices. Therefore, it may be concluded that adopting CA for more than 8 years could help restore soil health and sustain productivity in the rice–wheat cropping system of northwest IGPs.